Achievements of Expatriate Iranian Researchers in 2009

Iranian scientists working in various countries and creditable universities have had great achievements in 2009, some of which will be reviewed here at the beginning of 2010.

Fortunately, Iranian scientists living in various countries have broken new grounds in science during the past year. What follows is a compendium of their accomplishments which starts with technology and energy. Part II will focus on genetics and medicine.

Technology and Energy

1. Bahram Jalali

Professor Bahram Jalali and his research team from the University of California invented a camera called Steam in early months of 2009 which is the world’s fastest camera capable of taking photos in less than one-billionth of a second. This qualifies the camera for taking photos of cellular and neuronal activities as it can take about six million photos in a second.

During the same year, Jalali invented polymer electro-optic modulators which can be used for broadband fiberoptic networks with a capacity of 100 GB. The system is called LX8900 and is able to improve performance of broadband communication, reduce equipment and cut energy consumption in 100 GB equipment. The polymer modulators have been regulated at cellular level and can be functional in electro-optic activities.

2. Meisam Qavanlou

Meisam Qavanlou from the University of Georgia is another Iranian scientist who has invented a tongue control system to help people with movement disabilities. The new device uses two 5-mm sensors to detect a magnetic piece which is attached to the tongue. The sensors are put on the head of the patient like a headphone to calculate fluctuations in magnetic field when the tongue moves and transfers signals to a computer. The signals are then translated into the action which has been meant by the disabled person.

3. Vahid Sandouqdar

Inventing an optic transistor using a single cell was another remarkable accomplishment of Iranians in 2009 which was accomplished by Professor Vahid Sandouqdar from chemistry and physics laboratory of ETH Institute in Zurich. The transistor will play a crucial role in increasing the power of future computer CPUs.

4. Shahram Izadi

The Iranian researcher of Microsoft in England tried to make interactions between humans and computers more natural in 2009 and has been able to invent a touch smart surface which will greatly facilitate access to information in a totally innovative way. The smart surface radiates infrared beams and detects their reflection from fingers or any other surface on top of it, thus making it possible for the user to work with the surface as a computer. Second Light is the name of this revolutionary development made possible by Izadi. It uses a secondary projector and a special device which adds physical layers of information to the aforesaid surface.

5. Babak Parviz

Dr. Babak Parviz is an Iranian scientist at the University of Washington who made the first sample of bionic lens two years ago. His invention has been chosen among the top inventions of 2008. The lens was tested as a tool which can render science fiction films in a real way in 2009. The lens will enable users to check their emails without connecting to a computer. It uses LED and such components as miniature aerials, biosensors and semi-transparent circuits and is able to form virtual pictures in the visual field of the person who uses it. The bionic lens is completely portable and high-tech and can be used to transfer information.

6. Tannaz Harirchian

Tannaz Harirchian is a doctorate student at the University of Purdue who has delineated how fluids boil in cooling micro-channels. This can be a major breakthrough in producing new cooling systems for electronic parts in cars. She has come up with a new remarkable model for improving cooling systems of electronic chips used in car parts in hybrid vehicles.

7. Navid Zargari

Dr. Navid Zargari has been chosen as inventor of the year in Ontario, Canada. His invention, that is, medium-voltage engine without transformer, can play a great role in increasing fuel productivity and sustainability of industries. Navid Zargari from Rockwell carmakers was chosen as scientist of the year in inventions exhibition of Toronto in 2009 due to the role his invention plays in increasing productivity of fuel consumption and ensuring sustainability of oil, gas, power, mineral, cement, water and wastewater industries.

8. Ashkan Vaziri

Ashkan Vaziri, an Iranian researcher at Northwestern University who has got his master’s degree from Sharif University of Technology was one of 38 winners who won the young inventor prizes of the US Air Force. The young inventors program launched by the US Air Force considered a total prize of 14.6 million dollars part of which was won by Vaziri. He used the money to work on biological mediators for hybrid structures.

9. Mohammad Taherzadeh

The Iranian researcher at the Boras University of Sweden who studied waste recycling, has found an unlikely source for green and clean fuel and has been able to come up with a method to convert waste material remaining from citrus fruits to green fuel. Mohammad Taherzadeh and his research team at Boras University had already produced ethanol and biogas from various forms of waste material and are now focusing on how to produce clean fuel from citrus fruits waste.

10. Qasem Shahbazi

Dr. Qasem Shahbazi from North Carolina University has implemented a project to invent a new machine which will enable farmers to fuel their tractors by using their own crop. The new cost-effective machine can convert vegetable oil to low-price biofuel, thus, enabling farmers to cultivate their needed fuel and then use it.